Have you cut the (cable) cord?
- Thread starter EvilBetty
- Start date
It's definitely luck on who picks up the line on the Directv end. Some are helpful and others it is not worth wasting your time.
Yeah.. I complained and argued and said I was leaving. 4 hours later they call me back and take off around 65 bucks a month on my package. I pay $45 as well. I had that for 12 months with no commitment. That ends, though this month. I called yesterday and they can't tell me any benefits I qualify for until the 22nd.
Good thing is when I call back to negotiate, I have that leverage... (I want what I currently have for my current price or I'm leaving).. they usually don't wanna let you go as a customer, especially if you've been with them for a long period of time.. (6 years).
For sure. I had made other calls previous to that one though and really didn't have much luck. I'm definitely pushy about it but never seem to get anywhere even after they transfer the call to the elusive manager...
Looking for recommendations:
My parents are looking at streaming options for two homes. They currently have DirecTV at their home in Iowa, and relying on OTA channels at their 2nd home out of state. My dad is thinking about dropping DirecTV and finding a streaming option that would work at both locations.
What they are looking for is a streaming service (Sling, PS Vue, DirecTV Now, etc) and also the hardware that would be installed to run that service (AppleTV, Roku, FireTV Stick, etc).
If I were to rank their priorities:
My dad has his sights set on Sling TV, both Orange and Blue packages, but I am reading that Orange-labeled programs only support a single stream at a time. Open to any and all suggestions.
My parents are looking at streaming options for two homes. They currently have DirecTV at their home in Iowa, and relying on OTA channels at their 2nd home out of state. My dad is thinking about dropping DirecTV and finding a streaming option that would work at both locations.
What they are looking for is a streaming service (Sling, PS Vue, DirecTV Now, etc) and also the hardware that would be installed to run that service (AppleTV, Roku, FireTV Stick, etc).
If I were to rank their priorities:
1. Ease of use - is the streaming app intuitive to use and is the hardware easy to use as well
(ex. if they get booted out of the app will they be able to figure out how to sign back in?)
2. DVR - need to be able to record a lot, they live and die by their DVR currently
3. Cost of hardware. Looking for a wallet-friendly device that can be installed easily behind a TV. Could be looking at purchasing as many as 8 devices (4 at each home) so AppleTV 4Ks may not be a practical option
4. Support for multiple streams - minimum of 2 simultaneous devices, but 4 is preferable. There will be times where both homes will be occupied at the same time.
5. Content - must haves are local channels (IA), HGTV for my mom, Kids channels like Disney and Nickelodeon, and sports stations for ISU/Minnesota Gopher games, NHL/Collegiate Hockey, and NFL. The ability to have access to Fox Sports Regional Channels (FS North preferred) would be a big draw.
(ex. if they get booted out of the app will they be able to figure out how to sign back in?)
2. DVR - need to be able to record a lot, they live and die by their DVR currently
3. Cost of hardware. Looking for a wallet-friendly device that can be installed easily behind a TV. Could be looking at purchasing as many as 8 devices (4 at each home) so AppleTV 4Ks may not be a practical option
4. Support for multiple streams - minimum of 2 simultaneous devices, but 4 is preferable. There will be times where both homes will be occupied at the same time.
5. Content - must haves are local channels (IA), HGTV for my mom, Kids channels like Disney and Nickelodeon, and sports stations for ISU/Minnesota Gopher games, NHL/Collegiate Hockey, and NFL. The ability to have access to Fox Sports Regional Channels (FS North preferred) would be a big draw.
My dad has his sights set on Sling TV, both Orange and Blue packages, but I am reading that Orange-labeled programs only support a single stream at a time. Open to any and all suggestions.
Could not recommend YouTube TV more! Easy to use! Unlimited DVR. Roku sticks work very well for YouTube TV. 3 streams at a time. I have all 4 live local networks in eastern Iowa. I also get the Fox Sports regional channels for Minnesota and Missouri as well as the Chicago regoinal sports channel. Had YouTube TV since February and we have not had any complaints. We only pay $35 a month but not I believe new subscribers pay $40 a month.
what devices support YouTube TV besides Roku?
Just looked and I don't see an app for FireTV. That's a deal breaker for me.
Yeah...unfortunately Amazon and Google don't like each other...so that would be a deal breaker. Although if for whatever reasons (lineup, cost, etc) you decided to go with YouTube TV I would guess you could just use a Roku device with your Fire TV.
Seems as if the prices of streaming services are going up as well. The more people that switch over to things such as Playstation Vue, Sling, Youtube TV, DirecTV Now, the price is just going to keep going up. I have done a few free trials of Sling (one of the highest rated streaming services) and wasn't that impressed. You have to pay extra for kids channels, news channels, sports channels, DVR... it starts to add up. A couple more years and I believe you wont see a big difference in price. Just no commitment with streaming services where you have one with Dish and directv.
My biggest thing with the streaming is.. you pay anywhere between $40-$50 bucks for it. Then on top of that you'll have to pay for you internet and you'll want decent connection in order to stream all of that stuff, so you're probably looking at $60-$80 bucks for solid internet.. You total those up and you're right around DirecTV or Dish.
I just called them over my lunch hour today. I went straight to customer retention. I didn't even threaten to cancel, I just asked what kind of deals they had. I was paying around $140/month (after several discounts dropped off), and they knocked $60/month off, so I was pretty pleased with that. I see others got better deals, but it depends on how often you call and negotiate, how long you've been a client, etc.
The streaming packages will never be anywhere close the non promotional cable prices though. Sure, intro rates with DTV or Medicaom may be enticing but the have you over the barrel on the second year. This is where streaming will hold it's leverage IMO.
I guess for me it didn't really matter because I was already paying for internet. Cable alone I was saving $100 per month when I cancelled DTV and started streaming PS Vue. It has been more than worth it. Those extra fees for HD, DVR, boxes, etc add up in a real hurry!
Yep...agree! Also...not really fair to add the cost of internet to a streaming service unless you weren't going to pay that already. No way would my family be willing to give up internet service no matter what method we got our TV services. So when looking at the cost of cable vs streaming I don't see how adding the cost of internet plays in that equation. We dropped cable and started YouTube TV and did nothing to alter our internet service. Figuring all of that together we save almost $75 over what we were paying when we had cable TV.
I'm saying that I pay for $45 bucks currently for internet and $50 bucks currently for DirecTV. I have them combined so I save some money there. $95 bucks total for the both. If I were to stream my live TV say through.. YouTubeTV, I'd be at $85 bucks/month but I would have to upgrade my internet to support that much streaming. So I'd over what I currently pay.
I just got Apple TV, Direct Now (w/ HBO and has all the local channels), Amazon Prime (wife had a membership and didn't even know it included TV, doh!), and Netflix.
With the smooth and easy interface and navigation of Apple TV, plus all the above content, I'm loving life. Especially with football and basketball seasons right around the corner.
With the smooth and easy interface and navigation of Apple TV, plus all the above content, I'm loving life. Especially with football and basketball seasons right around the corner.
$50 for DirecTV is a strong price and I would guess you would have trouble saving money by switching to any streaming service other than Philo. There are other benefits to streaming (streaming from anywhere to your phone/computer/tablet) but if you don't need those or use those then I agree...a total of $95 for both services is very good. Although with my $60 internet plan and the $35 YouTube TV costs me $95 is right where I sit in those expenses.
I am really looking forward to college football season this fall as it will be the first time I had YouTube TV in the fall. I get more sports channels than I can watch so Saturdays are going to be great!
Yeah and I understand not everyone will get a deal from DirecTV.. especially one that I got. That deal expires this month and I'm not sure if I can get the same deal moving forward, but at least I have a little bit of leverage.
